| Abstract: | The concentrations of pyruvic acid, citric acid, L-malic acid, acetic acid, L-lactic acid and glycerol were determined in beers of different type and origin. Large differences in organic acid and glycerol contents were found, especially between different types of beer. The amounts of acetic acid, lactic acid and glycerol can be used as process parameters. During malting a decrease of the malic acid-citric acid ratio occurred due to the pathway of the TCA-cycle. The acetic acid content and glycerol contents showed increases during fermentation. The latter parameter is useful to indicate if alcohol-free beer has been produced by fermentation. Determination of apparent final attenuation degrees of worts according to the usual laboratory practice resulted in higher glycerol contents than was found for the corresponding beers, making the value of this assay questionable. |
